Davis & Elkins College's Relationship with the Presbyterian Church (USA)

Since its founding, Davis & Elkins College has sought to be a faithful partner in mission with American Presbyterians. The College was founded at the urging of United States Senators Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen Benton Elkins, both Presbyterians, with financial and moral support from the Presbyteries of Winchester and Lexington, Virginia.

Today, the College is related to the Presbyterian Church (USA) by covenants with the Synod of the Trinity and the Presbytery of West Virginia. Davis & Elkins' Benfield-Vick Chaplain is supported by an endowed fund established by the First Presbyterian Church of Charleston, West Virginia, that honors two of its former pastors who also served as trustees of the College: Dr. William A. Benfield and Dr. George Vick.

Through the years, a number of individual Presbyterians and congregations, and the College itself, have provided financial support for Presbyterian students. Scholarships fall into two categories: Presbyterian Scholarships that give preference to Presbyterians and the Covenant Scholarship for dependents of ordained Presbyterian ministers. By submitting the Application for a Presbyterian Scholarship along with an Application for Admission to Davis & Elkins College, the applicant will be considered for all available scholarships for which he or she might qualify.

            Presbyterian Scholarships

These scholarships vary in amount. Some require financial need. Others give preference to students from certain geographic locations or congregations. Yet others give preference to those preparing for church vocations.

• Dr. and Mrs. J. Howard Anderson Scholarship
• Nettie Blubaugh Memorial Scholarship
• Claude King Davis Memorial Scholarship
• Enslow Park Presbyterian Church Nursing Scholarship
• William M. Ferry Scholarship
• Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church Endowed Scholarship
• Sally Ray Harold Memorial Scholarship
• John W. Moore Scholarship
• National Capital Presbytery Scholarship
• Louise Todd Baird Oliver Scholarship
• Pitzer-Lambie Scholarship
• National Presbyterian College Scholarship Presbyterian Scholarship Fund
• Vienna (Virginia) Presbyterian Church Scholarship
• Wheeling United Presbyterian Church Memorial Scholarship
• First Presbyterian Church of White Sulphur Springs Memorial Scholarship
• Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Women's Association of the First Presbyterian
• Church of Weston

              Covenant Scholarship

This scholarship is designated for dependent sons and daughters of currently-serving Presbyterian Church (USA) ministers of word and sacrament who are 23 years of age or younger and who attend the College as full-time students. The scholarship is equal to one half of the current tuition. The Covenant Scholarship may not be combined with other financial assistance funded by Davis & Elkins College, although outside funding may be added. If the son or daughter of a Presbyterian minister qualifies for Davis & Elkins College awards greater than one half of tuition, he or she may accept the higher award.

To be eligible for a Covenant Scholarship, the applicant must provide, in addition to the general Application for a Presbyterian Scholarship, the name of the clergy parent, the position the clergy parent holds, and the name of the presbytery in which the clergy parent serves.